What we learned

**Shark86x** · 09-23-2012, 05:11 PM

What I learned:

1. The O-line is worse than I thought, and will take a while to improve to poor. Rachal worked out some rust today, with a couple of false starts, but seemed much better than Spencer. But then 0+anything is better than 0.
2. The receivers need more stick-um on their gloves. I don't care if you got two guys hanging on you, the ball hits you in the hands - you catch it.
3. The defense is better than I thought. The line looked great today, admittedly, against a weak o-line, but the safety and corner play were great.
4. Cutler is hearing too many footsteps, whether they are there or not. Shades of Rex. We have GOT to protect him better.
5. Urlacher will take a few more games to get into game shape. He's improving, but I don't think the knee injury is a serious concern anymore.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-23-2012, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Spencer at LG was terrible. Rachal is a very small step up to bad. Cwill is THE best LG on the team and one of the best 5. If the talent level isn't there consistency isn't going to help as much. Just like chipping it does help but not to the extent of upgrading the talent.

Tice needs to get Cwill out of the doghouse and into the lineup period.

I'm not disagreeing about C.Will being a solid LG, and maybe our best LG. But I think the train has left the station for our 2012 season. Barring injury, I think this is our oline until we can get better people next year. It is what it is...

**short faced bear** · 09-23-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I'm not disagreeing about C.Will being a solid LG, and maybe our best LG. But I think the train has left the station for our 2012 season. Barring injury, I think this is our oline until we can get better people next year. It is what it is...

If you want Rachal going against the Suh's of the world so be it. It isn't like the last few seasons where multiple spots were juggled. This is one spot a spot that can help the OL. Cwill isn't some rook or someone who can't handle his business at LG. If he was LT that's a whole other animal.

If Cwill were installed it wouldn't break this highly vaunted "continuity" it would be a shot in the arm for the left side.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-23-2012, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

If you want Rachal going against the Suh's of the world so be it. It isn't like the last few seasons where multiple spots were juggled. This is one spot a spot that can help the OL. Cwill isn't some rook or someone who can't handle his business at LG. If he was LT that's a whole other animal.

If Cwill were installed it wouldn't break this highly vaunted "continuity" it would be a shot in the arm for the left side.

I'd be mighty happy if C.Will was LG. But I don't think it's going to happen. For whatever reason they have him as a tackle this year. I don't agree with that, but it's their mindset for this season.

With that being said, I'd like to see them FINALLY set the oline depth chart, and move forward with our season. Even an oline like this can get better once they get to play as a unit for a few games (at least). The longer you do the "musical chairs" thing, the more it hurts our offensive line for the season. They are already weak enough.

Again, I'm not disagreeing with you about C.Will.

**Henry Burris** · 09-23-2012, 06:55 PM

I fell asleep during the game (oh well), and when Forte is back in a week or two, the run and pass game will improve. I saw Paea (or was it sanz?) Running like a mad pitbull on pcp at the qb. I'm NOT worried by the offense, as this was the BEST defense we will face for a while (Cowboys have an inexperienced cb, and safeties are worse than some of the bad safeties we've had the past few years; lions, LOL), so the offense did what was needed. With that said, remember 2 of our best wrs are playing in this system for the first time. My biggest concern was Cutler's inability to look off Marshall. I guess the best test is when he's getting knocked around a bit, and goes into "gtfo with the football" mode. We have a good team, people, and if they can put aside the cowboys next week, we're gonna groove.

**DieHard Bear ina Chair** · 09-23-2012, 08:38 PM

I too felt like our WR's had some major issues with dropped catches. Jeffery & Marshall seemed to have had 2 each clearly in their hands and/or chest which they couldn't hold onto. They would have been very big gains, but luckily they didn't come back to bite us. The ball thrown to Hester in the end-zone I believe could go either way...Cutler maybe overthrew it a bit, or Hester should have either jumped higher/timed it better or take an extra step towards the back corner. Woulda coulda shoulda.

The O-line performed very well, BUT I also believe they do NOT deserve as much blame last week as they received. Last week Cutler held onto the ball way too long on several of those sacks. Today, he threw the ball quicker most of the time but he still tends to throw on his back foot at times when he really isn't forced to. Maybe he has too much confidence in his arm strength, but after a performance like last week I hope he got a reality check.

Bush was my biggest surprise. Granted, our Defense played Stellar football, but losing your starting HB who is so versatile & essential in not only running the ball but receiving & blocking as well had me really liking what I saw with Bush. In today's league, you don't really see one HB taking 25-30 carries a game & lasting an entire season. This has become a 2 HB league & knowing that Bush can & will be a great compliment to Forte makes me feel very good as we progress later into the season.

**weneedmorelinemen** · 09-23-2012, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Spencer at LG was terrible. Rachal is a very small step up to bad. Cwill is THE best LG on the team and one of the best 5. If the talent level isn't there consistency isn't going to help as much. Just like chipping it does help but not to the extent of upgrading the talent.

Tice needs to get Cwill out of the doghouse and into the lineup period.

I think there are more than a few posters here that have a rosy memory of Chris Williams at LG. IMO, he was nothing special to get so worked up about, and ended his season again on IR. Yes, it was a weird injury to his wrist. Could happen to anyone. Except something always happens to CW. Be it his wrist, or a hamstring, or his back or whatever. He managed to play all 16 games only once, back in 2009. That's not a durable player. I don't like brittle players.

I wanted him in competition for LT. Since he could not win it, the Bears need to focus on moving on from CW if he cannot play tackle. That means we need to find a real guard right now. If there are injuries, or if Rachal fails to produce, yeah, put Chris in. I'd put in Edwin first, but I'm okay with seeing CW there if Rachal is a liability. But Webb absolutely needs someone gunning for his position, or he will settle back and coast. And we need to learn what we have on the roster now while the season is early for the future, not put in CW for his last year before we let him walk in FA.

**gopherguy22** · 09-23-2012, 10:47 PM

The three things I loved most about today's game, in no specific order.

- Pass rush from the interior line. It was very exciting to see.
- Man coverage by the DB's. Makes it easier on the DB's when the d-line is generating so much pressure, but they still looked stellar today.
- Michael Bush showing he can start if he needs to.

I wasn't happy about the game overall, and I had a poor week fantasy and pick em wise, but it's good to see the Bears at 2-1 and not 1-2.

**Jimmors** · 09-23-2012, 11:06 PM

I learned that our OL and DL are light years apart

**soulman** · 09-24-2012, 02:06 AM

I'll go you one better than that Jimmors.

I learned that the entire offense and defense are light years apart. If this offense is given the field position it was today and wins a TOP battle like they did all game long and can't put up more than 16 points then welcome to 8-8 because there are an shit load of teams who will score more than 16 points on us.

I'm getting a little bored with hearing announcers talk about and writers write about all of our marvelous offensive weapons and then not see anything like advanced weaponry going on out there. My faith in Tice as an OC is waning weekly. The Bears cannot be a playoff level team with an offense that misfires this often.

Weapons are useless if not used correctly. You can give Danica Patrick the fastest best handling ride NASCAR has to offer and until she stops running into people or can avoid people running into her she not gonna win any races is she? Maybe she's not that good a driver she's just hot looking and maybe Tice isn't that good an OC. He's just big and glib enough to convince us he is and that he knows what he's doing. Jeremy Bates needs to have more input.

Bright spot? Webb didn't have two shitty games in a row. Dark spot? Cutler did. So goes Cutler so go the Bears and he won't beat good teams playing the way he did today. He looked very, very, very average.

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